It has been about 200 years since immunology started as a science to elucidate the functions of living organisms to avoid infections. Today, it is clear that immunity is not limited to the function of defending the body, but is also involved in various biological phenomena such as aging, pregnancy, and carcinogenesis, and is deeply related to the maintenance of homeostasis. In addition, there are immune-mediated diseases such as allergy and autoimmune diseases in which immunity itself is the cause of the disease. Recently, the nature of various molecules involved in immunity has been clarified, and the concept of "immunity" has continued to expand with the significant development of molecular immunology. Living organisms fulfill their lives in an exquisite balance of diverse interrelationships between molecules and cells. Immunology is like a microcosm of biology that unravels complex systems.

　　At Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, we do researches on protozoan diseases, mainly leishmaniasis. We take various molecular/cellular approaches, work everywhere from lab to field, and covers various organisms from microorganisms, insects, humans and other animals for thorough understanding of the diseases and development of novel interventions to control the diseases.

1. Immunology/immunopathology of parasitic diseases
2. Development of diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines for parasitic diseases
3. Utilization of parasites for medical applications
4. Vector biologyl for disease control
5. Epidemiology and integrated disease management of infectious diseases

Leishmaniasis: Leishmaniasis is a vector-borne zoonotic disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania. The disease is transmitted by the blood-sucking sand fly and is endemic over 90 countries with ~ 1 million new cases annually. Leishmaniasis can be classified into three main forms, cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL), mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (ML) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL, also known as Kala Azar). Although the cutaneous form of the disease is widely distributed and brings a large number of patients, it often resolves spontaneously and does not cause death on its own. On the other hand, VL is fatal if not treated properly. More than 95% of new VL cases occur in 10 countries: Brazil, China, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, Kenya, Nepal, Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan.